While grumbling about my frustration with the 7th God's tricks, I continued to sew on the napkin that I was tasked with. That cheating old geezer, if he's up against a mortal, he should fight like one without any use of his divinity. I am a child and therefore have the temper of a child. It's unreasonable but my pride thinks it's unfair. I am not a fan of how this played out.
"Really? He said that? How rude!"
"Exactly, if I could get away from here I would live happily as an old maiden".
"Not even in need of a husband, I just want a house all for myself"
"Come on everybody it's lunch time", the madame of the manor announced from the terrace door. It's more of like a terrace bridge by the entrance where the girls would spend most of their time talking or playing with their hobbies. Like today where they had wasted four hours on girl gossip and sewing.
"Yes, Madame", the girls synced in agreement as they all rushed to get up from the floor and ran inside. This manor was the one that bought me.
"Come now Lupa", Spi En smiled at me as she got up from sitting down on the floor. With her gentle demeanor, soft skin and light silk dress that flows as she moves, one would assume she's a daughter of a noble. But no, she's just a mere courtesan.
Since coming here, they have been taking care of me. The moment they saw me through the door whilst being cradled in the madame's arms, they burst out in excitement and instantly greeted me and passed me around to be carried and babied.
Seeing as I am the only kid around here, they spoil me a lot especially this girl, Spi En whom I heard adores children because she's infertile. She stopped midway from walking and gestured to me food, so I only nodded. It has been 3 days since I arrived here but the wound from my neck isn't healing well enough for me to speak, they think I'm a foreigner. I was also told that I was sold here for a mere 20 silver coins. The merchant said it was the best for me since he didn't know what else to do with me and people here aren't very friendly to those of other races. From the camp, I could tell that the boss was hoping I was some kind of fairy but when he confirmed I'm human, he must have resorted my value down to this. A courtesan trainee.
I'm starting to think that it must be why I was subjected to severe bullying back in the village and which of my parents are the foreigner. My father spoke Edzhilan like a slithered snake but his appearance is somehow different to everyone else' there so it must be him.
I understood now that this world is also somehow racist because a non-aristocratic foreigner-looking kid such as myself wouldn't be safe anywhere else but here. A place where diversity is mostly accepted as long as you're pretty. My mother's beauty would've lived up to the standards of these ladies perhaps even surpassed some of them. She used to work in the town below the village as well, did she happen to discover this place? Perhaps they know my mother. If I had a voice, I'd ask them for some light gossip on my part as well.
Because of this unexpected scenario, the journey to my next self is delayed and I have to re-consolidate my plans all over again. I can't leave right now, otherwise I wouldn't be able to ask directions or object because I have no voice. This isn't that far from my original destination but it would still take some time to travel, about 3 days on foot and a day on horse.
I can't really get too bummed out by this, at least I'm still alive and don't have to change story again and go through birth. Yuck. Though I have full control over what my life would become, there are other forces in nature that are far more controlling than my own. Literally and figuratively. I'm not living in an ordinary mortal world after all.
The Gods are everywhere…
The first full meal that I have ever eaten in my life is in this place complete with expensive dishes like a full steak all for myself, they aren't surprised by my big appetite considering my condition when I got here. I eat a lot but it's a god given attribute that my metabolism cannot process food more than the fucking size of my fist. I can't just live healthy that I have to vomit my intestines out after eating.
'Thank you for the food', I simply bowed after I finished my plate and walked out the dining the table. Though their eyes were locked keen on me as they observed my every move.
"Is it because of her throat?"
"She doesn't want to be rude so she finishes it even though she can't swallow well"
"Spi En, get the medicine ready", I heard them and the madame whisper as I silently vomited outside this big window.
Or this might just have to be the price I pay for killing off an entire village, by not letting me digest good food.
But it's the winter so at least it's peaceful here. There aren't many customers around this season because of the hefty traveling conditions but I heard it gets disgustingly crowded here in the summer. The manor being filled with sweaty, smelly soldiers or travellers staying in for the nights and of course the dreadful moaning from the act of sex.
Whenever there are customers, they usually just make me stay in the furthest room in the manor where the sound would be at least bearable and not too disrespectful for a child to hear. They accompany it with music and snacks as well. I've got nothing else better to do so I simply review my scrapbook and contemplate on the progression of the story even more. Luckily, those hunters were kind enough to let me keep my belongings.
I don't sleep here at night but this is basically my room now. I like the small space and the view outside even though that one old little cave hut down the hill does ruin the all white aesthetics. It only adds more of the melancholic effect to this place. I have an idea of who lives there but I have yet to test my hunch. The hut lits up only at noon until early night time. And from what I gathered, an old quack of a wizard lives there. He is the one who provides the girls with their pills and other medications in exchange for them sending him food once a week.
Hmm…Come to think of it, I do need a change of eye color for my next role in order for Drazhan to not recognize me.